Roller-bearing



- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. D. MENEELY.

ROLLER BEARING.

110.462,71). Patented Nov. 10,1891. /llllll/l/ \\\\\\\1|I||lHll///// o M'MM WITNEEEE 67 ff( A (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. D. MBNEELY.

ROLLER BEARING.

No. 462,719. Patented Nov. 10,1891.

"f NITED STATES ATENT Grrrcn.

CHARLES D. MENEELY, OF ALBANY, NEXV YORK.

ROLLER-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,719, dated November10, 1891.

Application filed March 17, 1891.

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. MENEELY, of the city and county ofAlbany, State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inRoller-Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in roller-bearings, and has for itsobjects to provide a roller thrust and step bearing which shall be lightand reduce the friction to a minimum. I attain these objects by means ofthe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a cross section through the shaft, showing a plan of theroller-bearing in contact with a collar keyed to the shaft. Fig. 2 is apair of truncated cones, showing the manner of determining the size ofthe rollers. Fig. 3 is a pin or spindle; and Fig. 4 shows the shaft andbeveled collar and a section through the bearing-box, showing therollers in contact with said collar.V

Similar letters refer to similar throughout the several views.

To the shaft A the collar B is secured or formed upon as part of theshaft. Said collar B is provided with two lateral beveled surfaces C,extending from the shaft outwardly nd approaching each other, as shownin fig. 4.

The bearing-boXX is provided at each lateral end with a beveled disk Z,corresponding in pitch to the beveled surface C of the collar, butflaring outwardly from the shaft in an opposite direction to that of thebeveled surface of the collar adjacent thereto, as shown in Fig. 4.

Between the beveled disk Z of the bearingboX and the beveled surface Cof the collar and in contact with each I place a number ofconically-shaped tubular rollers arranged to take up the speed of thevarious portions of the beveled surface C of the collar B.`

The beveled disk Z may be a part separate from the bearing-box, ifdesired, but must be stationary and form a bearingsurface for therollers. I construct these rollers by dividing a tubular roller in theshape of a truncated cone, having its pitch conforming to that of thesurface C of the collar B and the disk Z, transversely into three parts,forming three conically-shaped rollers D, E, and F, (see Fig.

parts Serial No. 385,333. (No model.)

2,) each of said rollers being shorter than the distance from the outeredge of the collar to the shaft. I arrange these rollers in thefollowing manner: The largest rollers D are placed between the surface Cof the collar and the stationary beveled disk Z near the ou ter edge ofthe collar. The smaller rollers E are placed between the beveled surfaceC and the beveled disk Z, nearer the shaft than the rollers D andoverlapping or breaking the joints between the rollers D, and therollers F are placed still nearer the shaft between the beveled surfaceC and the beveled disk Z and overlapping or brcakingjoints between therollers E, as shown in Fig. 1. I place through the rollers spindles orpins G in such a manner that each spindle shall pass through one of thelargest rollers D and through the overlapping roller next adjacent to itof the series E, and from thence through the roller F, next adjacent toand overlapping said roller E. As thus arranged a roller of the series Dhas two spindles passing through it, each one of which passes Vthroughseparate but adjacent rollers of the series E and through the sameroller of the series F. At the end of each spindle is formed a cap orhead H, which is in contact with the surface of the roller F nearest theshaft and which is for the purpose of keeping the spindles in place. Asthus arranged the spindles alternately interlock or inter-weave theconicalshaped tubular rollers around the collar and between the collarand the stationary beveled disk. They also by this arrangement preventthe rollers from being forced outwardly and away from the shaft. Viththe rollers thus constructed, formed in the shape of truncated cones andarranged between and in contact with the beveled surfaces of the collarand the bearing-disk, said rollers being alternately interwoven by meansof the spindles or pins to encircle the shaft, when the beveled collarvturns each of the rollers in contact therewith revolves, as do also thespindles, which serve to keep the rollers in position and in alignment,and the friction generated is reduced to a minimum. The tendency of thethrust vof the shaft and collar is to force everything between thebeveled surface of the collar and the stationary beveled disk outwardlyaway from the shaft. This result IOO is prevented by the constructionand position of my rollers and the arrangement of the spindles, and verylittle, if any, friction is generated because of the constant movementof the roller and spindles and a total absence of sliding contact.

It is understood thatI place my roller-bearing on each side of thecollar C in contact with each of the beveled surfaces and with each ofthe beveled disks of the bearing-box.

My invention is particularly Well adapted for use in connection With thecrank or propelling shaft of a Steamship. The horizontal thrust of theshaft to which the propellingscrew of a ship is attached is enormous,and the friction generated at the bearings is so great as to necessitatea continuous stream of Water or oil being applied thereto, and a' greatdeal of power is lost in consequence. By means of my roller-bearing thefriction would be reduced to a minimum. Water or oil Would not benecessary, except in limited quantities, if at all, and the powernecessary to operate the shaft would be greatly reduced.

It is apparent that my invention may be used as a step-bearing With thesame advantage which I claim for it as a thrust-bearing, and I thereforedo not limit myself in any Way to the application on my invention forthrust-bearing. l

I do not limit myself to the number of series of rollers, for although Ihave shown but three-D, E, and F-the number may be increased, providedthey are arranged to break through said rollers alternately,substantially p as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a roller-bearing, the combination of a series of conicallyshapedtubular rollers placed between and in contact with a beveled collarsecured to the shaft and a stationary beveled bearing-disk, each of saidrollers being shorter than the distance from the shaft to the outer edgeof said collar, said rollers arranged to break joints or lap past eachother at their innerends,with rods arranged to pass through said rollersand alternately interlock or interweave said rollers around the shaftand between the collar and the bearing-box, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES D. MENEELY.

